THE STUD Y OF NA TURE. 6 1 



stems like whips ; larch, fir, or other conifers covered 

 with lichen and useless. It is a sight to break the 

 heart of a forester, and yet how often is it seen ! This 

 need not be where forestry is understood and appre- 

 ciated, but there is no cure for this state of things 

 where it exists. No forester, however clever, can 

 rectify the result of past mismanagement ; he cannot 

 bring order out of chaos. Nothing is more hopeless 

 than to be called upon to deal with neglected woods 

 and plantations. This state of things has been pro- 

 duced by unwise distribution and selection, by ignorant 

 thinning, and by an absolute indifference to recognised 

 rules and elementary physiology. 



Prevention alone must be looked to, and the forester 

 should endeavour to prevent a recurrence of such a 

 chaotic state of things by carefully studying what we 

 have endeavoured to picture. He should satisfy him- 

 self that by studying Nature, and endeavouring to 

 follow on her lines, he may secure that which is 

 absolutely essential to success ; and by ignoring her 

 teaching, and carrying out his own preconceived 

 opinions, he may court failure and future discom- 

 fiture. 



Another feature not to be lost sight of in the dis- 

 tribution of trees, is that of planting together those of 

 equal development and power. When taking trees 

 from the nursery the nurseryman should always sort 

 the plants, placing those of robust growth, both with 

 regard to stem and root fibre, together, and keeping 

 separate those of feeble or imperfect growth. The 

 planter by this method will plant in accordance with 

 this selection, and so do his best to secure uniformity. 



